Albert Daniels, et al. v. APEX California Region Holdco, LLC, et al.

Summary

The United States District Court for the Central District of California grants Plaintiffs’ motion to remand a putative California wage-and-hour class action removed under the Class Action Fairness Act. The court concludes that Defendants failed to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the amount in controversy exceeded $5 million because their damages calculations relied on unreasonable assumptions and insufficient evidence. The court denies the motion to compel arbitration as moot.

Holdings

1. Defendants failed to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that more than $5 million was in controversy, so federal subject matter jurisdiction under CAFA was not established.
2. The motion to compel arbitration was denied as moot because the case was remanded to state court.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Defendants established by a preponderance of the evidence that the amount in controversy exceeded CAFA's $5 million jurisdictional threshold.
2. Whether Defendants' damages calculations were based on reasonable assumptions and sufficient evidence.
3. Whether the motion to compel arbitration remained justiciable after remand was ordered.

Disposition

remanded